A Holocaust survivor who has spent 60 years telling his horrific experiences in Nazi concentration camps urged children in Bradford to live peaceful lives.

Leon Greenman, a sprightly 92-year-old Jew who was born in the East End of London, stunned a group of 60 teenagers from several Bradford high schools with his story of pain, hunger, separation, murder and hope.

His talk, organised by Bradford Trades Councils Anti-Racist Schoolkit Project and Yorkshire Forward, wasfollowed by questions at Carlton Bolling's City Learning Centre yesterday, and was filmed so other pupils in the city can learn from him.

Mr Greenman was living in Rotterdam in 1942 with his British wife and child when they were taken by the occupying Nazis to a Dutch camp and later to Birkenau and Auschwitz, despite their British credentials. At Birk-enau his wife Esther and baby Barnie were separated from him. Years after, he learned they had been murdered in a gas chamber two hours later.

He said: "I began telling people about what happened in the camps in 1946 and I am still talking. Read the books - find out about the Holocaust. What happened to me must never happen again. Grow up, get married, have children and live in a peaceful world. I am here as a warning for you people - please believe me."

Two pupils, Rahema Begum and Shaleya Khatun, both 15, were amazed by his determination to carry on living.

Rahema said: "It is important we hear from him so it never happens again."

Shaleya added: "Even though he has had such a difficult life, he seems really optimistic and has a good sense of humour. "